The Best Rice Cooker – Reviews & Top Picks in 2017

Don't you just love rice? I certainly do but my rice cooker had it's best time so I went looking for a new one that would last at least a decade. In my search for the best rice cooker I soon found myself reading a multitude of rice cooker reviews. Of course, I couldn't try out every rice cooker on the market, but each rice cooker review I read gave me a little more insight into what is available and how different models compare.

This website is devoted to bringing together, at one convenient location, a large number of well rated rice cookers. It is not a site that simply promotes its own brand or a single type of rice cooker, but each review is meant to help you find the best rice cooker that fits your own particular needs. This might be commercial usage, feeding a large family or private group on a regular basis, or serving one or two people only. Let's have a look at my favorite model first:

This model has a separate setting for numerous cooking items, including brown rice, cakes, sushi, porridge, mixed rice, sweet rice, as well as the option for steaming or quick cooking. It has a Fuzzy Logic micro-computer, which automatically adjusts temperatures as needed, along with auto keep-warm, extended keep-warm, and reheating functions. The stainless steel exterior and detachable inner lid make for quick and easy cleaning.

Other important features include: the choice between a beep and melody signal, a retractable power cord, a removable lid, and an LCD control panel. You can read our full review here or you can hop over to Amazon to buy one at a very competitive price!

My other top 3 favorites are:

The Instant Pot is indeed a seven-in-one device, which can function as a pressure cooker, rice cooker, steamer, slow cooker, saute pot, warm-up pot, and yogurt maker. It has a six-quart capacity, is made of stainless steel, offers 14 programming options, gives you a helpful automatic keep-warm feature, and comes with a free multi-national cookbook. The Instant Pot is highly valued for its multi-functionality, tough durability, and impressive energy efficiency. Read our full review here...

This rice cooker offers you five cooking functions: white or mixed rice, brown rice, quick cooking, sushi, and porridge. Its inside cooking pan yields extremely even heating, and its many measuring lines give you precise ingredient control with ease. It also offers a two-setting delay timer, a reheat cycle, an LCD display, both auto and extended keep-warm settings, and a retractable power cord. The device takes up very little space and comes with a spatula + holder and a measuring cup. Read our full review here...

The VitaClay is fully programmable and comes with 4 pre-programmed settings: white & brown rice, soup, and stew. Its most unique features are its clay cooking pot and cupped heating pad, which are well integrated with technology to deliver an exceptionally even cooking process. It also features a double lid that aids the heat-up process via exertion of "micro-pressure." Besides being an all-natural way to cook your rice and food items, the VitaClay is also 50% more energy efficient than most of its competitors. Read our full review here...

Popular Models

Here a full overview of all the other rice cookers we reviewed

We went out of our way to review as many rice cookers as possible and the result is the long list below, if you’re in a hurry I’d recommend to go with one of the three rice cookers that we described above!

Zojirushi NP-HBC10
This model offers you multiple cooking functions, a stainless steel construction, a timer, a keep-warm function, and several accessories. The real distinction here, however, lies in two areas. First, there is the micro computer technology that makes for a rather “smart” rice cooker. Second, the innovative induction heating system. This inductive method distributes the heat more evenly and gets you superior results.

Panasonic SR-DE103
The Panasonic SR-DE103 gives you many cooking options, including white rice, brown rice, sticky rice, steaming, slow cooking, porridge, cake, and 15-minute cook. The Fuzzy Logic micro-computer automatically adjusts the power setting depending on the quantity of rice being cooked. The black anodized cooking pan results in rice with a superior flavor. A 12-hour keep-warm button, a 24-hour clock timer, and a big, orange LCD display are also among this rice cooker’s features. The white chrome finish gives the unit a touch of style as well. This is truly a technologically advanced machine that will serve a multitude of purposes.

Livart 1 Cup Rice Cooker
The Livart is a small, compact rice cooker that is perfect when you only need rice enough for one or two people. It offers a simple, single-switch operation, a keep-warm function, and a non-stick Teflon-coated pan. The entire unit weighs only 3.5 pounds and comes with a detachable handle for easy portability. A side-dish container, which can be used as a sort of a lunch box, is also included. Here we have a perfect solution for small-scale meals and for on-the-go rice usage at picnics and family gatherings.

Zojirushi NS-ZCC10
This model makes use of advanced Neuro Fuzzy Logic technology to ensure you get perfectly cooked rice on a consistent basis. It gives you multiple menu selections, auto and extended keep-warm, reheating cycles, and a spherical, non-stick pan that makes for exceptionally even heating. You also get an LCD display, timer and a retractable power cord. Two measuring cups, a rice scoop, a scoop holder, and a stash of valuable recipes are all included as well.

Cuisinart PSC-350
This slow cooker has four cooking modes: high, low, simmer, and warm. It can be used to cook rice as well as meats, stews, soups, casseroles, and a host of other dishes. Its most outstanding features include: a non-stick ceramic pot, stainless steel housing, an LCD timer display that lasts up to 24 hours, stay-cool handles, and a non-slip rubber bottom. Ease of use, easy clean-up, and high safety standards characterize this multi cooker.

Instant Pot IP LUX60
This is a multi-functional device capable of cooking rice, slow cooking, steaming, warming, sauteing, and browning. Some of its most important features include: a 24-hour delay timer, up to two hours of cook time, a three-ply, stainless steel bottom, auto-warm, three temperature settings, and a large, easy-to-use control panel. This model also comes with 10 proven safety mechanisms, a high energy efficiency rating, and numerous accessories.

Tiger JNO-A36U
This tiger cooks rice quickly and holds rice well without causing overcooking. Its 20-cup capacity makes it a top choice for restaurants and food stands. It comes with a silicon cooking sheet, which helps to prevent rice scorching, as well as a spatula and a six-ounce measuring cup. It has a non-stick inner pan, an easy-to-wash inner lid, a highly effective heating ring, and an automatic keep-warm function. The control buttons are easy to use. This is a very large rice cooker, at around 30 pounds weight, but it can cook a massive amount of rice.

Black & Decker RC436
This is a large rice cooker with many valuable features. First, it has steam vents and a condensation catcher to keep things clean during operation. second, it is dishwasher safe and easy to clean after usage. Third, it has a non-stick rice pan, “cook” and “warm” lights, and a transparent glass lid. Fourth and finally, I should mention the stay-cool handles and the handy side latch that holds the rice scoop right where you need it.

Aroma 8-Cup Digital
The Aroma rice cooker not only serves to white and brown rice, but it also does well with soup, stew, chili, and much more. Furthermore, it can steam meats and vegetables while your rice or other dish is cooking and synchronize the finishing time. The ability to program your whole meal and have it all done at that same moment is truly a great draw. A 15-hour delay timer makes it possible to plan things out well ahead of time as well. Finally, there are valuable coupons, recipes, and accessories included.

Panasonic SR-3NA
This Panasonic rice cooker is simple to operate and adequate for cooking small amounts of white rice. It features a one-step, just press and leave, procedure. The lid is made of glass, the pan non-stick aluminum, and it consumes 200 Watts of power. This model should not be used for brown rice, and it’s best to clean the rice in a separate pan before cooking it. The design is sleek and unique, and it weighs only 2.2 pounds.

Zojirushi NS-VGC05
This rice cooker has menu settings for all of the following: white rice, mixed rice, sushi, cakes, porridge, rinse-free and quick cooking. Its Fuzzy Logic micro-computer allows it to auto-adjust cooking temperatures as needed. It features a thick-bottomed inner pan and an automatic keep-warm function to prevent burning. Other features include an LCD control panel, a timer and clock, several accessories, and it comes with a free recipe book. The device has a curved, futuristic look to it, which is a style that many prefer.

Cuisinart CRC-400
This device is unique in that it cooks entirely by means of steaming. It not only steams meat and vegetables, but it steams the rice as well. It comes with a glass lid, a rice paddle, and a measuring cup. The rice cooker automatically adjusts to a keep-warm setting once your rice is complete. Finally, the stainless steel exterior and steaming basket, along with its unique square shape, should be mentioned. The Cuisinart can frequently be had either new or certified refurbished at a reasonable price.

Tiger JBV-A10U
This model allows you to cook both a main dish, whether rice, soup, chili, or something else, and a steamed dish simultaneously. The most notable feature, however, is that it can perform this dual-cooking in synchronic fashion so that your full meal is done all at the same time. There are four settings: white rice, brown rice, slow cooking, and synchrony cooking. Single-push operation makes this model very easy to use, and the non-stick pan coating makes it quite easy to clean as well. A spatula, measuring cup, Tacook cooking plate, and cookbook are also included.

Multifunction Indirect Heat
This rice cooker works well with white, brown, and sweet rice, and it also functions as a steamer and warm-up device. It is made of stainless steel and has a style reminiscent of an old-fashioned coffee percolator- though, of course, a bit shorter. It is simple to operate, having only a single on/off switch, and it offers a keep-warm function as well. Here we have a multi-functional rice cooker of medium capacity with a stylish, if somewhat nostalgic, appearance.

Tiger JNP-1500
This is a Japanese model with a unique design – a pink floral arrangement against a white background. It comes with an external steam vent, which cuts down on any potential mess, as well as a non-stick inner pan for quick serving and easy cleaning. The steam vent itself is removable for easy washing. The keep-warm function lasts for up to 12 hours, and the whole device is operated from a single button. Another helpful feature is the retractable power cord.

Zojirushi NS-TSC18
This model comes with a multi-function steaming basket. It also offers auto and extended keep-warm, reheating cycles, an LCD control panel, and a two-setting delay timer. Its Fuzzy Logic automatically adjusts temperatures as needed to prevent burning, and you can choose between melody and beep signals. This rice cooker also has an easy-to-clean stainless steel exterior and an inner lid that detaches for easy washing.

Zojirushi NYC-36
This is a 1,300-Watt rice cooker that cooks up to 20 cups of rice. This device is large enough for use in many restaurants and other food-service enterprises. The inner pan is non-stick and has helpful measuring lines, and the keep-warm mode keeps your rice at an optimal temperature till you are ready to serve it. The stainless steel construction gives you durability, style, and an easy time when cleaning the device.

Thunder Group SEJ50000
This 30 cup uncooked rice cooker originates from Taiwan. Perhaps, this explains why this device can cook up to 60 cups of rice at a time and keep it all warm for hours on end. It’s made of stainless steel, and is sturdy and easy to clean. Anyone looking for a large-scale, restaurant-sized rice cooker should not overlook the SEJ5000.

Advice to buyers for finding the best rice cooker

What features distinguish the best rice cooker?

Certain features will be of greater importance based on someones personal preferences, such as ease of clean-up, versatility, and steaming ability. Nonetheless, the best rice cookers typically have a number of important features in common. Among the features that routinely separate a rice cooker as top-of-the-line are the following:

Stainless steel construction, since this benefits you in the realms of durability, easy-cleaning, and attractive style

A retractable power cord, which makes for more convenient storage

An LCD display screen, preferably large, with both a clock and a timer

The ability to automatically switch to keep-warm mode or auto-adjust temperature mode based on rice quantity

Simplicity of use, which means that you can operate the device with a single button or with two or three at most

Even heat distribution, which renders a better cooking result in general

A non-stick cooking surface for the rice pan and steaming basket

How much should I spend on a rice cooker?

While a low-quality rice cooker can be had at a very low price, it will not last nearly as long and most of the time it will not function as well while it lasts. As you generally get what you pay for, the willingness to pay more for a better machine should gradually increase along with two factors: the frequency at which you plan to be cooking rice and the degree of perfection you demand your rice to be cooked to.

Conclusion

There is a bewildering variety of rice cookers available on the market. They go far beyond the basic functionalities of models of years gone by and offer you a number of special features. Look for the model that combines all of your “must-have” features with as many of your “preferred” features as possible for the lowest available price. Clearly, this will entail looking at more than just one or two reviews.

With each rice cooker review you read, you will become a little more well-informed as to what a great deal really looks like. For this reason, it is best to skim over at least five to ten rice cooker reviews before buying one. Knowing how helpful reviews like these have been to me in my situation, I wish you the best of luck in finding the rice cooker that exactly fits your needs.

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